[Terrapreta] More on clay/pottery etc

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Kurt

That is a good point you raise. However, obviously, if the wood was on 
the surface, it would rot, but in such submerged conditions, it does 
indeed remain good for centuries. Is there perhaps some intermediate 
condition of pH and oxygen, or particular micro-organism, where the wood 
is "denatured" in a way that elemental carbon remains?

Consider a peat bog... the vegetation is humified, and its blackness 
suggests a significant degree of carbon. Consider also the so-called 
"bog soils", which are definitely not "fire related", but which are 
indeed black... the Northern Equivalent of Brazilian Terra Preta?

It is an interesting puzzle indeed.

Kevin

rukurt at westnet.com.au wrote:
> Kevin Chisholm wrote:
>>
>> And very good ones!! Would it be possible or likely that TP evolved as 
>> follows:
>> 1: Trees (and other vegetation) toppled in wet areas, creating a carbon 
>> similar to charcoal, during an uncommonly wet period. The wet areas then 
>> eventually returned to normal, and people found they could grow crops 
>> better in "black soil".
>>
>>
>>   
> I very much doubt that this would create charcoal or even 
> "charcoal-like" material. In Tasmania people are 'mining' pine logs that 
> have been in the water for hundreds of years and the timber comes up 
> like it was cut yesterday. Wood that is kept wet and under water will 
> last for a long long time. Alternating wet and dry, or just moist causes 
> dry rot and the log is gone in no time, on the other hand.
> 
> Kurt
> 
> 
> 
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